The U.S. Air Force and defense contractor Northrop Grumman are nearing a deal to accelerate production of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, with a formal agreement expected by the end of March.
The move aims to boost the U.S. strategic bomber fleet as the program moves toward its goal of at least 100 aircraft to replace aging bombers by 2040.
The Air Force and Northrop Grumman are working on a growth framework to increase the delivery tempo of B-21 Raider bombers. The program is currently in low-rate initial production across five lots totaling 21 aircraft. A formal agreement could be reached before March 31, according to Kathy Warden, CEO of Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman builds the B-21 Raider at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The company received the contract for the third low-rate production lot in late 2025 and has already secured advanced procurement for the fifth lot. Multiple test aircraft are now flying, with the second B-21 completing its first flight recently.
READ ALSO: https://modernmechanics24.com/post/kia-ev-electric-hatch-cold-test/
The U.S. strategic bomber fleet currently relies on aging aircraft. The B-21 is designed to replace the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit by 2040 and could eventually take over from the B-52 Stratofortress. Faster production means the Air Force can retire older, less capable aircraft sooner and maintain long-range strike capabilities against modern threats.
Congress approved $4.5 billion for B-21 production capacity expansion in July through a reconciliation package. The fiscal 2026 budget allocates nearly $2.4 billion for research and development and $2.1 billion for procurement. Northrop Grumman plans to invest an additional $2 billion to $3 billion over multiple years to support acceleration, covering facility expansion, workforce growth, tooling, and supplier throughput. The exact annual production rate remains classified, but public estimates suggest around seven aircraft per year.
The B-21 is a dual-capable penetrating stealth bomber designed for both conventional and nuclear missions. It conducted its first flight in November 2023 and is expected to enter service by 2027. Reported characteristics include a wingspan of 40 meters, a maximum weapon load of 9,100 kilograms, and a top speed exceeding Mach 0.8. The aircraft is part of a broader family of systems that includes electronic attack and advanced communications capabilities.
WATCH ALSO: https://modernmechanics24.com/post/swiss-robot-brain-autonomy/
The program faces budget complexity. Lawmakers recently moved to cut $620 million from B-21 procurement in the proposed base fiscal 2026 budget while adding $409 million to research and development, resulting in a net cut of $211 million.
The Air Force stated that the program of record has not changed and remains at a minimum of 100 aircraft, but it is unclear how base-budget adjustments interact with the separate $4.5 billion production-capacity expansion. Northrop Grumman’s Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program is also undergoing restructuring following cost overruns, highlighting challenges in parallel modernization efforts.
Accelerating B-21 production has strategic implications beyond factory output. Debate continues over the future size of the bomber fleet, with some discussions citing numbers between 145 and 200 aircraft for high-intensity operations. A February 2026 study from the Mitchell Institute argued that planned B-21 and F-47 numbers would be insufficient for a sustained conflict scenario.
READ ALSO: https://modernmechanics24.com/post/neural-blueprint-human-like-soft-robots/
In Australia, defense experts have proposed seeking access to the B-21 as a complementary capability amid AUKUS submarine cost projections. Faster production strengthens the U.S. nuclear triad modernization and provides earlier long-range strike options for allies.
